Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Comparison of microplastic isolation and extraction procedures from marine sediments

Researchers compared five methods for extracting microplastics (40-710 μm) from marine sediments by spiking known MP quantities into sediment matrices and measuring percent recovery across extraction approaches. Results showed that sediment matrix composition, MP properties including size and polymer type, and extraction method all significantly influenced recovery efficiency, underscoring the need for standardized extraction protocols to enable cross-study comparisons.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 90 citations
Article Tier 2

Isolation and Extraction of Microplastics from Environmental Samples: An Evaluation of Practical Approaches and Recommendations for Further Harmonization

Isolation and extraction methods for microplastics from environmental samples were evaluated and compared, tracing the evolution of methodologies from early studies in the 1970s to current approaches. The review identified persistent inconsistencies in extraction efficiency across methods as a major obstacle to comparing microplastic contamination data across studies and locations.

2020 Applied Spectroscopy 200 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in freshwater sediment: A review on methods, occurrence, and sources

This review synthesizes methods, occurrence data, and sources of microplastics in freshwater sediments, comparing approaches and providing recommendations for standardized sampling and analysis to fill knowledge gaps relative to marine research.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 480 citations
Article Tier 2

Techniques for Collecting Micro Plastics in Freshwaters and Sediments

This review examined sampling methods used across 150 studies on microplastics in freshwater bodies and sediments, finding significant variation in sampling tools, mesh sizes, and analytical approaches that make it difficult to compare results across studies. Standardizing sampling and analysis protocols is one of the most pressing needs in microplastic research. Without comparable methods, it is difficult to assess the true extent of freshwater microplastic contamination globally.

2021 Journal of Marine Biology & Oceanography
Article Tier 2

Developmentof Standardized Methods to Extract andDigest Microplastics in Environmental Samples

Researchers reviewed and compared extraction and digestion methods for isolating microplastics from environmental samples, finding that the lack of standardization across techniques is a major barrier to producing comparable results and calling for validated universal protocols.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Methods for sampling, processing, identification,and quantification of microplastics in the marine environment

This paper reviews and compares the various methods used to collect, process, identify, and quantify microplastics across different environmental samples. It highlights the lack of standardized protocols as a major obstacle to comparing results across studies and calls for methodological harmonization.

2020 Oceanography in Japan 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of microplastic content in natural waters and sediments: sampling and sample preparation

Researchers reviewed and evaluated sampling and analytical methods for measuring microplastic content in natural waters and sediments, assessing sources of error and variability in current approaches. The review recommended a standardized protocol to improve cross-study comparability.

2024 Журнал аналитической химии
Article Tier 2

Standardizing microplastics used for establishing recovery efficiency when assessing microplastics in environmental samples

Researchers evaluated recovery efficiency practices in microplastic environmental assessment studies published in 2020, finding appreciable variability in the density and size of microplastic particles used across investigations, which undermines the ability to compare results between studies. The authors call for standardized recovery efficiency protocols using realistic microplastic mixtures that better reflect environmental sample conditions.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Validation of Sample Preparation Methods for Microplastic Analysis in Wastewater Matrices—Reproducibility and Standardization

Sample preparation methods for microplastic analysis in wastewater were validated against reference standards to assess recovery rates and reproducibility. The validation study identified methods that reliably extract microplastics from complex wastewater matrices, supporting more consistent environmental monitoring of microplastic discharge from treatment plants.

2020 Water 180 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparision protocols for extraction of microplastics in water samples

Researchers compared four different extraction protocols for isolating microplastics from water samples and found significant differences in efficiency and accuracy across methods. Standardized extraction protocols are critical for producing comparable microplastic abundance data across studies. Without consistent methodology, it is difficult to build a reliable global picture of microplastic contamination levels in water.

2023 Vietnam Journal of Marine Science and Technology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in riverine systems: Recommendations for standardized sampling, separation, digestion and characterization

This paper provides standardized recommendations for microplastic sampling, separation, digestion, and characterization protocols in riverine systems, addressing methodological inconsistency that limits cross-study comparability. The authors propose harmonized operating procedures for field sampling and laboratory analysis to improve the reliability and comparability of microplastic data across river studies globally.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Metodologia de extração de microplásticos associados a sedimentos de ambientes de água doce

This Brazilian study (in Portuguese) evaluated methods for extracting microplastics from aquatic sediment samples, comparing different protocols to improve analytical accuracy. Standardized extraction methods are essential for producing comparable microplastic data across different studies and regions.

2021 Engenharia Sanitaria e Ambiental 5 citations
Article Tier 2

The assessment of microplastic and microfibres in freshwater systems through different sampling methods reveals causes of incomparability.

Researchers performed a literature mining study on microplastic abundance in freshwater systems, finding that large discrepancies between studies arise not only from inherent environmental variability but from methodological differences in sampling and analytical approaches, highlighting the urgent need for standardized protocols.

2025
Article Tier 2

Validation of microplastic sample preparation method for freshwater samples

Researchers developed and validated a standardized sample preparation method for extracting microplastics from freshwater samples, testing enzymatic digestion and density separation steps to improve recovery rates and reduce measurement uncertainty across different particle types.

2021 Water Research 46 citations
Article Tier 2

A critical review of microplastics characterisation in aquatic environments: recent trends in the last 10 years

This critical review assessed current approaches to characterizing microplastics in aquatic environments, evaluating sampling methods, extraction protocols, and analytical techniques. It identified persistent inconsistencies in methodology and recommended standardization practices to improve data comparability.

2024 Analytical Methods 4 citations
Review Tier 2

Recovering microplastics from marine samples: A review of current practices

This review compared the published methods for separating and identifying microplastics from seawater, sediment, and marine organisms, assessing their efficiency, processing time, and potential to damage particles. It highlights the lack of standardized protocols as a major barrier to comparing results across studies.

2017 Marine Pollution Bulletin 254 citations
Article Tier 2

Sampling, Isolating and Identifying Microplastics Ingested by Fish and Invertebrates *

This methodological review critically evaluated sampling, isolation, and identification techniques for microplastics ingested by fish and invertebrates, identifying common sources of error including contamination during processing, particle loss, and misidentification — and recommending standardized protocols.

2020 85 citations
Article Tier 2

Establishing freshwater sediment sample pretreatment methods for monitoring microplastics and its challenges

This review evaluates the various sample preparation methods used to extract microplastics from freshwater sediment, which contains more organic matter and debris than other environmental samples. Researchers compared different digestion, density separation, and filtration techniques and found that no single standardized approach exists. The study highlights the urgent need for consistent protocols so that microplastic monitoring results from different locations can be meaningfully compared.

2024 Chemical Engineering Journal 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Methods for Studying Microplastic Pollution in Natural Waters: Current State and Recommendations

This methodological review addresses the lack of standardization in how scientists sample, process, and report microplastic contamination in natural waters, which makes it nearly impossible to compare results across studies. It details quality assurance and quality control steps — especially important given how easily tiny plastic particles contaminate samples from the lab environment itself — and provides concrete recommendations for sampling protocols and data reporting. Harmonizing these methods is a critical step toward building a reliable global database of microplastic pollution.

2024 Journal of Oceanological Research 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in seawater: a study of pretreatment, separation, and recovery.

Researchers developed and compared pretreatment, separation, and recovery methods for isolating microplastics from seawater samples, addressing the methodological diversity that limits comparability across marine monitoring studies. The study identified optimal combinations of techniques that improve microplastic recovery efficiency while minimizing contamination and sample loss.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)